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Northern New York Community Foundation

Northern New York Community Foundation

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Deadline for High School Seniors to Apply for 2025-2026 Foundation Scholarships Fast Approaching

March 11, 2025 By admin

Students Have More Opportunities Than Ever Before for Educational Support

     WATERTOWN — High School seniors in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties have until this Saturday, March 15, to complete a free application for Community Foundation scholarship support.

     Members of the graduating class of 2025 who plan to enroll in post-secondary programs this fall must complete their applications through the Community Foundation’s online scholarship portal by 11:59 p.m. March 15. The application portal may be accessed at bit.ly/nnycf-scholarships.

     Tri-county high school seniors who will enroll as full-time undergraduates this fall may apply. Students pursuing technical, trade, or vocational school may also apply and should complete the same application. All students should thoroughly read all application instructions. Students who have achieved all levels of academic success are encouraged to apply.

     Last year, the Community Foundation partnered to award 900 scholarships totaling nearly $1.4 million that helped nearly 600 students attend two- and four-year colleges and universities, as well as technical, trade, and vocational schools and programs.

     Since 1980, the Community Foundation has awarded more than $22 million in scholarships to students who live in the tri-county region. In addition to its own scholarship awards, the Community Foundation annually administers nearly 500 scholarships established by individual donors, business, and organizations as well as scholarship funds on behalf of 32 school districts across the three counties.

      “As we near the deadline, we strongly encourage students take the opportunity to apply knowing that there are more scholarships available for just about every type of student,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “Given the increased availability of support being offered, there is an greater likelihood that those who apply will receive some type of help as they pursue their educational goals. This also helps us best align donor interests with local students.”

     Contact Mary Perrine, scholarship and program manager, maryp@nnycf.org, or Tara Hess, scholarship and program associate, tara@nnycf.org, or 315-782-7110, with questions about Community Foundation scholarships. Visit nnycf.org, to access the application portal and learn more about scholarships.

About the Northern New York Community Foundation

     Since 1929, the Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and enriching the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.

     Through partnerships with businesses and organizations, charitable foundations, and generous families and individual donors, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships from an endowment and collection of funds that benefit the region. Its commitment to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community philanthropy while inspiring others.

     The Community Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors, professional advisors and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring people together at its permanent home in the Northern New York Philanthropy Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative solutions that strengthen the region and make it a great place to live, work, and play.

Filed Under: Recent News

Northern New York Community Foundation

131 Washington Street
Watertown, NY 13601

Phone: 315-782-7110
Fax: 315-782-0047

info@nnycf.org

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Northern New York Community Foundation

Northern New York Community Foundation

4,985

Working with donors to benefit the community through grants and scholarships since 1929.

The Community Foundation is pleased to announce that a group of donors have come together to make possible the free use of Watertown's two outdoor city pools for the season.

The Foundation, together Watertown Savings Bank Bank, local developer Jake Johnson, the Jane Deline Foundation, and dozens of individual donors, have generously provided support that will ensure free swimming throughout the summer.

Complete details: www.nnycf.org/city-pools-f#NNYCFN#ThoughtfulGivingi#collaborationa#grassrootsgivingiving
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Community Foundation collaborates with donors to ensure free swimming at city pools

www.nnycf.org

Community Foundation collaborates with donors to ensure free swimming at city pools June 18, 2026 By admin Grassroots effort matched by major gifts will allow city to cancel planned fee WATERTOWN — ...
22 hours ago
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This is awesome! So thankful for the community donors. My kids are forever grateful for your generosity.

Now this, is awesome!

The kids should always be grateful for people like that too

Thank you so much, to all the donors! 😊❤️

Thank You to a generous and supportive community!❤️🌟

Very nice !!! Thank you.

Wonderful news.

That is so amazing! What a beautiful community we have.

Amazing job

AWESOME!!!👏🏼

What a wonderful gesture! ❤️

Amazing!!!! Thank you to all the Donors!!!

AMAZING!

That is wonderful!

This is why we love this community! Thank you!!

This is amazing news! Thank you to all who donated!

Fantastic. Kudos to all who donated. Thank you from all the families who need this free recreation this summer!!!

Love this💕💕💕

Amazing 👏

Such a thoughtful and caring gift to the community.

City is a bunch of crooks

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Together with the Italian-American Civic Association, we are pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of the William I. Graf Award. 

Watertown High School seniors Marra Dickinson was selected as the women’s recipient, and Maddox J. Corey was named as the men’s honoree this year.

We are honored to help the Graf family and the Italian-American Civic Association steward this highly cherished and storied legacy award. We look forward to seeing these three talented student athletes continue their journeys on and off the athletic field as they advance to undergraduate studies this fall.

Complete details: nnycf.org/2026-graf-award

Top photo, from left: Watertown High School seniors and 2026 William I. Graf Award recipients Marra Dickinson and Maddox J. Corey. 

Bottom left photo, from left: Watertown High School Director of Health, PE, & Athletics Greg Russo; 2026 William I. Graf Award recipient and Watertown High School senior Marra Dickinson; Italian-American Civic Association President Michael Lettiere and Italian-American Civic Association Vice President Pasquale Surace. 

Bottom right photo, from left: Watertown High School Director of Health, PE, & Athletics Greg Russo; 2026 William I. Graf Award recipient and Watertown High School senior Maddox J. Corey; Italian-American Civic Association President Michael Lettiere and Italian-American Civic Association Vice President Pasquale Surace. 

#NNYCF #ClassOf2026 #GrafAward #WHS #IACA #ThoughtfulLegacyImage attachmentImage attachment

Together with the Italian-American Civic Association, we are pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of the William I. Graf Award.

Watertown High School seniors Marra Dickinson was selected as the women’s recipient, and Maddox J. Corey was named as the men’s honoree this year.

We are honored to help the Graf family and the Italian-American Civic Association steward this highly cherished and storied legacy award. We look forward to seeing these three talented student athletes continue their journeys on and off the athletic field as they advance to undergraduate studies this fall.

Complete details: nnycf.org/2026-graf-award

Top photo, from left: Watertown High School seniors and 2026 William I. Graf Award recipients Marra Dickinson and Maddox J. Corey.

Bottom left photo, from left: Watertown High School Director of Health, PE, & Athletics Greg Russo; 2026 William I. Graf Award recipient and Watertown High School senior Marra Dickinson; Italian-American Civic Association President Michael Lettiere and Italian-American Civic Association Vice President Pasquale Surace.

Bottom right photo, from left: Watertown High School Director of Health, PE, & Athletics Greg Russo; 2026 William I. Graf Award recipient and Watertown High School senior Maddox J. Corey; Italian-American Civic Association President Michael Lettiere and Italian-American Civic Association Vice President Pasquale Surace.

#NNYCF #ClassOf2026 #GrafAward #WHS #IACA #ThoughtfulLegacy
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1 week ago
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Congrats to the both of them. Keep killing it Marra and Maddox

Congratulations 👏🎉

Congratulations to you both!

Do they honor IHC?

Congrats to Marra and Maddox! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

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Thank you to Stewarts Shops for the generous gift. Stewart’s Washington Street store manager Megan Abbott recently invited us to her store for a grant presentation.

The gift is from the Stewart’s Holiday Match program, an annual initiative from Thanksgiving to Christmas when Stewart’s Shops matches customer donations, dollar-for-dollar, to support local children and youth nonprofit initiatives.

The program raised more than $1.8 million in 2025 to help fund nonprofit organizations, schools, and churches in their service areas. We are grateful to be a recipient of a Holiday Match grant. 

Pictured, from left: Community Foundation Philanthropy Associate Emily Pfeil; Youth Philanthropy Council member and Watertown High School junior Hudson Guldenpfennig; and Stewart’s Washington Street store manager Megan Abbott.

#NNYCF #StewartsShops #HolidayMatch #FriendsOfTheFoundation

Thank you to Stewart's Shops for the generous gift. Stewart’s Washington Street store manager Megan Abbott recently invited us to her store for a grant presentation.

The gift is from the Stewart’s Holiday Match program, an annual initiative from Thanksgiving to Christmas when Stewart’s Shops matches customer donations, dollar-for-dollar, to support local children and youth nonprofit initiatives.

The program raised more than $1.8 million in 2025 to help fund nonprofit organizations, schools, and churches in their service areas. We are grateful to be a recipient of a Holiday Match grant.

Pictured, from left: Community Foundation Philanthropy Associate Emily Pfeil; Youth Philanthropy Council member and Watertown High School junior Hudson Guldenpfennig; and Stewart’s Washington Street store manager Megan Abbott.

#NNYCF #StewartsShops #HolidayMatch #FriendsOfTheFoundation
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2 weeks ago
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